Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Targeted killings: Operation ‘Pillar of Defence’

By Jonathan J. Ariel - posted Thursday, 29 November 2012


On the night of 29 December 1837, a small group of British and Canadians loyal to the Upper Canadian government crossed the river to the U.S. side where the Caroline was moored, loosed her, set fire to her, and sent her over the falls. One American was killed in the incident. Americans on the border were aroused to intense anti-British feeling.

This incident has been used to establish the principle of "anticipatory self-defence" in international politics, which holds that it may be justified only in cases in which the "necessity of that self-defence is instant, overwhelming, and leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation". The Caroline Affair is also now invoked frequently in the course of the dispute around pre-emptive strike (or pre-emption doctrine).

Under Webster's formulation, the Israeli actions must meet the conditions of necessity, proportionality, and immediacy. Israel's actions, Kendall argues, fully meet all three qualifications.

Advertisement

First, the strikes are necessary because of Hamas’ refusal to arrest those planning and carrying out the attack. In fact the matter becomes even clearer when the terrorist holds a position in the government of Hamas.The precision strikes are vital because no better alternative is available. Any other mode of seizing or killing a terrorist like al-Jabari would involve either sending in ground forces or the heavy bombing of buildings, both operations would inevitably lead to more civilians deaths.

Second, the strikes are proportional. The killing of one terrorist who has planned a terror attack or is planning such an attack is proportional when compared to the death and destruction that he has visited to date, or the deaths that he hopes to visit if he is not eliminated. The use of spectacularly well-targeted operations proves Israel studiously avoids harming civilians.

Finally, Israel's actions would likely qualify as defensive armed reprisals, as opposed to the armed reprisals prohibited by the U.N. Charter, given the IDF employs drone strikes as a tool to prevent future attacks by directly eliminating the source of the attack.

It is reasonable to conclude that Israel's tactic of "targeted killings" is lawful and fully complies with international law. Contrary to the commentary of Hamas and others, the tactic of ”targeted killings” differs significantly in a legal sense from a policy of "assassinations".

So long as the Jewish state remains at risk of Islamic terrorists who refuse to accept an independent Jewish presence in the Middle East and fundamentally dedicate themselves to Jihad as the means of erasing the Jewish state then “targeted killings” will surely continue to be employed as a tool of the IDF.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. Page 4
  6. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

42 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Jonathan J. Ariel is an economist and financial analyst. He holds a MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. He can be contacted at jonathan@chinamail.com.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Jonathan J. Ariel

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Jonathan J. Ariel
Article Tools
Comment 42 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy